Chapter 140: The Mysterious Alchemy

This was the day after Wizard Sean found Professor Tera.

It was also Tuesday at Hogwarts.

The weather was cold but clear.

In the corridor, Wizard Sean carried many books, some of which occasionally floated beside him, shifting positions to help him locate relevant knowledge across different texts.

Suddenly, a loud explosion sounded to Wizard Sean’s left; he flinched backward and saw the Weasleys emerge from behind a portrait, holding oddly shaped fireworks.

“Want something special?”

Fred shouted.

“Wizard Confetti Firecrackers!”

George tossed one into Wizard Sean’s hand.

Wizard Sean drew his wand faster than George, flicked it, and froze the firecracker midair.

“Oh—that’s not good.”

George stared at the firecracker about to explode, then grabbed Fred, who was trying to run away.

Soon, Wizard Sean saw exactly what a Wizard Confetti Firecracker was.

It did not burst with a dull boom, but exploded like a cannon, engulfing the Weasleys in a cloud of blue smoke while spewing out a naval admiral’s hat and several lively white mice.

Fred wore the hat, blue smoke puffing from his mouth:

“Great Green—brilliant silent spell…”

The Wizard Confetti Firecracker had no lethal power, but Wizard Sean sensed multiple spells unleashed in that instant—Explosion Charm, Transfiguration, and a spell similar to a Howler that stored sound.

Alchemy was indeed wondrous; simple combinations of spells could produce such magical fireworks. Yet at the same time, Wizard Sean felt something distinct—it was neither spell nor transfiguration, but a mysterious, profound force.

This feeling was especially common in the various trinkets the Weasleys had produced these past days.

As Wizard Sean pondered, he cast a Cleaning Charm to cleanse the corridor and the twins.

Then he looked at the Weasleys, nodded politely with a faint smile, and walked toward the spiral staircase.

“Do you think he sensed it? We can’t lose a genius to alchemy.”

Fred spat out a colorful scrap of paper and stuffed the mice into the firecracker box.

“Of course—he’s—”

George raised one eyebrow.

“Great—Green.”

Both tucked the firecrackers into their pockets, closed their eyes, and stepped into a hidden passage.

Since Hogwarts had been shrouded in a thin white veil, Wizard Sean had been diligently studying alchemy, especially the twins’ notes, though they often contained wildly imaginative content and extremely brief descriptions.

Yet undeniably, these brief notes were ten times better than those vague, obscure textbooks.

Perhaps alchemists feared their secrets being easily cracked by future generations, or perhaps alchemical scholars wished to preserve alchemy’s mystique.

Alchemical texts were filled with symbols and metaphors, as erratic and stream-of-consciousness as Michael’s ramblings.

For example: 【A circle drawn with enchanted runes is an ancient magical invention used by anyone with a special or hidden purpose—to protect themselves from “soul dangers” that threaten from without.】

This was the “illusion” of alchemy: the circle drawn in the book was the runic expression of a Confundus Charm—the very secret behind the Leaky Cauldron’s ability to keep Muggles out.

Isn’t that amazing? But without reading *The First Glimpse of Alchemy*, *Simple Introduction to Ancient Runes*, and *The Fifth Element: Exploration* together, no one would understand the circle’s meaning.

It appeared in *The First Glimpse of Alchemy*, was explained in *The Fifth Element: Exploration*, and only a wizard skilled in *Simple Introduction to Ancient Runes* could decipher what it referred to.

In short, alchemy’s mysterious nature deepened Wizard Sean’s interest—especially since this trait seemed rooted throughout the entire field.

It felt as though it was meant to be… a mysterious magic.

Compared to this, potions were far simpler. Wizard Sean had just finished organizing the Fusion Enlightenment Method into a coherent system for the Potion Will Domain.

With this method, any wizard could brew potions—even those with mediocre talent, who barely understood the brewing process.

But it didn’t matter,

you only needed to believe—the rest was left to magic.

It was foreseeable that this entire theory would shake the potion world to its core.

Today, Wizard Sean carried this complete manuscript down to the dungeons.

It made him feel this journey held historical significance.

The dungeon’s wind was always biting, capable of making even a wizard stepping from a warm fireplace shiver.

As he descended, the air grew thick, mingling the scents of earth, plants, and cauldrons.

Professor Snape still stared ahead, the flickering flames illuminating the parchment in his hand—the very manuscript Wizard Sean had written: the final piece of the Potion Will Domain.

In the corner of the parchment lay an almost invisible “one,” and even Snape could not have anticipated breakthroughs arriving so swiftly.

Indeed, only wizards who couldn’t even master the basics would devise alternative methods.

In the dungeon, Snape’s upward-turned lips betrayed neither mockery nor admiration.

Then the dungeon door opened, and Snape coldly watched Wizard Sean begin brewing potions with practiced ease.

His cauldron steamed as he added rose petals and vanilla pods in sequence… then moved with fluid precision through the ritual of improvement.

Wizard Sean carefully sensed the reason behind this magical ritual’s effect.

—They were suggestions, tools to reinforce a wizard’s conviction.

Soon, bubbles rose in the cauldron; Wizard Sean stirred methodically, step by step, making Professor Snape frown.

The viscous liquid turned golden at the final stir, and the system prompt rang as expected.

【You brewed a Draught of Living Death at beginner level. Proficiency +3】

Wizard Sean opened his panel:

【Title: Potion Beginner】

【Greatly increases perception of potions, slightly enhances potion talent】

【Advancement: Three skilled-level potions and three beginner-level potions unlock the Skilled Potion Title】

【Wart-Cure Potion: Skilled (10/3000)】

【Swelling Solution: Skilled (20/3000)】

【Swelling Potion: Skilled (20/3000)】

【Draught of Living Death: Apprentice (110/300)】

…

Once Draught of Living Death reached beginner level, Wizard Sean would unlock a new potion title—and alchemy would open to him.

When alchemy appeared on the panel, whether it was mysterious or not would no longer be up to it.

Wizard Sean slowly drank a potion; his drained energy rapidly restored.

“What do you think—Wizard Sean Green—how many clockwise stirs should one make when the Draught of Living Death boils?”

“Two, Professor.”

Wizard Sean recalled.

“Fool! Completely wrong!”